It was the same old song and dance for the Union: lots of possession, lack of finishing, and yet another team who took advantage of young defenders. FC Dallas repeatedly split the Union defensive line with direct play and through balls, leading to no less than -six- chances on goalkeeper Andre Blake with either no or one defender involved. Meanwhile, the Union’s sputtering offense’s best chance in the first half was a curler from outside the box by Borek Dockal that barely missed picking the top left corner.

The second half saw more of the same, and although the Union played better in the second frame, it wasn’t enough. Striker C.J. Sapong beat his defender but missed an open header off of a Fafa Picault cross, popping it harmlessly over the crossbar. Minutes later, a ball fell to Sapong at the left post right in front of the goal line, but Sapong’s lack of elevation on the ball allowed a sprawling Jimmy Maurer to get a paw to it.

Blake kept the Union in the match, but he couldn’t stop Mauro Diaz’s penalty in the 64th. Diaz, who replaced Santiago Mosquera just three minutes earlier, won a corner kick which lead to a penalty call on Austin Trusty in the box, who hauled down his mark. Diaz made no mistake of it, sending Blake left then slotting it coolly low and into the right corner. Ten minutes later, Max Urruti doubled FC Dallas’s margin just five minutes after HE came on, beating Blake on yet another counter.

For the Union, this marks fourteen straight non-wins on the road, stretching back to the 4-0 thrashing they gave D.C. United at RFK last year.

Something has to change for the U: whether it’s the formation, the coach, something has to give. They cannot go on like this and expect any kind of success this season.

Their next match is next weekend against the aforementioned D.C. United in Chester in what might be labeled a must-win already.

Notes: Jack Elliott did not make the eighteen, suffering from an injury. In his place, a fit-ish Josh Yaro made his first entrance into the match day eighteen this year.

About The Author

Jay Davenport

Jay is an editor for Pattison Ave and holds an English degree from Penn State. A native of the Wyoming Valley, he has lived in the Delaware Valley for over a decade. He is old enough to remember and young enough to hope.